Prosecution Seeks Death Penalty Again in Appeal Trial of Jeong Yoo-jeong for 'Murder of Peer Female'

Jung Yoo-jung "I will write a reflection letter to show sincerity even if forced"
Final defense statement "I will accept punishment, reflect, and become a new person"

The prosecution requested the death penalty again in the appellate trial for Jeong Yujeong, who was charged with murdering a woman in her 20s, whom she met through a tutoring app, dismembering the body, and abandoning it.

Jeong Yoo-jeong, accused of murdering a peer female and disposing of the body.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the appellate trial held on the 28th, presided over by the Criminal Division 2-3 of the Busan High Court (Chief Judge Lee Jaewook), the prosecution asked the court to sentence Jeong Yujeong to death.

Before the sentencing request, a part of the recorded file presented as evidence by the prosecution was played in a closed session. The recording contained Jeong Yujeong’s conversation with her family during a visit at the detention center.

The transcript included Jeong Yujeong saying, "I should write a letter of remorse even if it’s forced," expressing resentment to her grandfather with remarks like, "You should have cleaned the room before the police search," and discussing that the crime corresponds to the death penalty or life imprisonment while contemplating reasons for sentence reduction.

In her final statement, Jeong Yujeong showed tears and said, "As the person who committed this serious crime, I am truly sorry to the victim and the bereaved family," adding, "Though what has happened cannot be undone, I will accept my punishment, reflect, and become a new person."

She continued, "Just as I have not committed any crimes for the past 23 years, I will reflect again and again and become a new person who will not commit any crimes," and added, "I pray for the repose of the victim who is in heaven."

Earlier, the first trial court ruled, "This case is recognized as a planned and meticulous crime. The defendant decided to commit murder and diligently searched for a target, even planning to mutilate and abandon the body," and stated, "Although many letters of remorse were submitted to the court, it is doubtful whether the remorse is genuine, and the behavior shown since the arrest has been deliberate and calculated," sentencing her to life imprisonment.

Jeong Yujeong is accused of approaching A (26 years old at the time of death) through a tutoring app around 5:50 p.m. on May 26 last year, visiting A’s home, and stabbing A’s entire body multiple times with a pre-prepared utility knife, resulting in murder.

She is also charged with mutilating A’s body with a pre-prepared Chinese kitchen knife between 6:10 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the same day, damaging the corpse, and abandoning part of the body in a park located in Yangsan City, Gyeongnam Province, around 1:15 a.m. on May 27. Additionally, she is accused of theft for wearing A’s clothes after her own clothes were stained with blood during the crime.

After the crime, Jeong Yujeong tried to make it appear as if A was missing by abandoning the body along the Nakdong River, where she usually took walks. However, a taxi driver found it suspicious that she discarded a blood-stained suitcase in the forest and reported it to the police, leading to her capture.

The sentencing for Jeong Yujeong’s appeal trial will be held on the 27th of next month.